Building work on a new health centre is almost complete with services due to move in over the coming weeks.
The Rhymney Integrated Health and Social Care Centre will host health services from Aneurin Bevan Health Board and social care services provided by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Services will include two GP surgeries, a dental practice, an optician and 12 in-patient beds.
It will also be home to the council’s day opportunities centre and a community pharmacy.
Outpatient clinics will also be relocated to the centre saving travel time for patients.
The centre will also provide a base for district nurses, school nurses, health visitors; a community mental health team, the older people’s assessment team: and the children’s services team.
The approach will bring these different services together for the first time. Health and social care bosses have said it will allow a “truly integrated approach”.
The local community have been involved since the start of the development and have taken part in activities from deciding on the location of the centre to voting on its name. More than 50 people recently attended a series of drop in sessions and were able to ask detailed questions about the centre’s services, facilities, parking and transport.
David Jenkins, Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s chairman, said: “We are all very excited about this development.
“To have a range of services in one setting gives a very firm foundation for the future delivery of health and social care services. We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this development over many years, I am sure that the new centre will be a real benefit for local people.”
Cllr Robin Woodyatt, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: “Work has progressed at quite a pace on this fantastic new facility, which will help enhance the capacity of existing community services and bring together a number of health and social care teams under one roof.
“As the development enters its final phase, I greatly look forward to seeing this impressive facility open its doors to the residents of the north of our county borough.”